BOGALUSA - Richard Moody didn't have long to settle into the fire chief's desk at the central fire station in Bogalusa before he was called to action across town. In fact, he didn't even make it to the desk.
Before 8 a.m. on the first day of his stint as acting Bogalusa Fire Chief, a call came in that the city dump was on fire. There wasn't just a fire at the dump. There were about 10.
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"I got a call on my cell phone," said Moody. "I didn't even make it in to the station. I got to the dump around 7:30."
He got his initiation under fire, so to speak. He spent his first full day breathing smoke.
"I stayed out there until about six o'clock," said Moody. "I usually get off at four."
Bogalusa fire chiefs have a long history of facing major events within the first few months of their taking the top job. Ronnie Manning, for instance, was welcomed by Hurricane Katrina.
But Moody's dump fire was immediate. It ranks right up there with LeVern Meades' first day as administrator of Bogalusa Medical Center in early 2003. Two days before Meades started, the hospital was the site of a hostage situation and the situation was still pretty hot when he arrived. Moody's was in flames. He faced acres of long-composting materials that were flaming, smoking and smoldering. Moody took control. He got the Bogalusa Fire Department to start knocking down flames. He called for assistance.
Soon, Fire District Six and Fire District Seven tankers were also on-site and working the fires. The Forestry Service arrived and cut a fire line to help keep the situation contained. Bogalusa Public Works wrangled equipment and got to work. The nearest track hoes were located and brought in to clear land and move dirt that was smoldering deep below the surface.
"After six or seven hours, we turned the volunteers loose," said Moody. "But we pumped continuously for 36 hours."
Even then they weren't finished. A week later, the BFD was still putting out hot spots and staying alert in case others flared up from below. And the investigation continues.
It was certainly a memorable how-do-you-do for Acting Fire Chief Moody.
"I will remember it," he said. Moody finally made it to his new desk Monday.
And, of course, the dump fires weren't the only business for the BFD during the chief's first seven days.
"We had several house fires," he said. "And Thursday night we were called to rescue a boater and his two little kids on the Pearl River. They were OK, but his motor broke down. So we had a variety of calls this week."
Moody didn't appear any worse for the wear. He's been a firefighter for more than two decades, and was assistant chief for six months under his predecessor Roy Adcox. He thanks Adcox for helping him get ready to assume the role of chief.
"He taught me a lot and helped me get prepared," said Moody. "I'm still working on my typing skills, but this is a transition. I've got some good ideas and a lot of good men to help me with them."
He said he wants to "continue what's been going on."
"I want to keep working to get the best rating the city can get," said Moody. "I hope to get the equipment we need to serve the people. I want to keep working with Emergency Medical Services. And I'd like to get the two new fire stations opened."
Moody is in the process of rising from captain to assistant chief to acting chief in just eight months.
"I hope I can do good, and that the mayor sees fit to appoint me permanently," he said. Moody said firefighting is a "good job for somebody that's got public service in his blood."
"My main goal is to protect the city," he said. "I look forward to the challenge."
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